Future Shock Blog

Minor League Update: Games of June 28

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This is starting to get a little nuts. On one of the hottest streaks around, Arencibia is 8-for-13 with three doubles and three home runs in his last three games, and in his last 19, he's 35-for-81 (.432) with ten home runs and a .938 slugging percentage. It all adds up to a season line of .306/.354/.616, and a lot of people wondering if there's some way to get him playing time in Toronto.

Morris continues to be one of the best stories in the Pirates system. Two starts ago, he get pounded for 10 hits and eight runs, but in his other seven outings since moving up to Double-A, he has a 1.99 ERA while throwing strikes with plus stuff. He's the only pitcher at the upper levels of the Pirates system with a chance to make an impact at the big league level, as both his stuff and command are above average.

Remember when this guy was on the report on at least a weekly basis last year while bashing away at a .337/.431/.579 clip in the California League? The Eastern League has been far crueler to Neal, but after a slow start, the fast bat and the power are starting to show up in the stat sheet. 10-for-20 with four home runs in his last four games, and his .348/.414/.584 line in June makes it look like he's back in San Jose.

That Profar is hitting .308 in his nine error-free professional games with three doubles and a home run is awfully good, but even more so when adding a bit of context. This isn't some complex league, where 17-year-olds like Profar get their feet wet, this is the Northwest League, a predominantly college circuit that plays nearly Low-A level baseball, as 16 of Profar's teammates are four or more years older than him. He looks like he belongs with them, and that's a rare find.

Others Of Note:

Wilfredo Boscan, RHP, Rangers (High-A Bakersfield): 8 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 11 K. 20-year-old Venezuelan had been holding his own in the Cal League, but nearly 30% of his strikeouts have come in his last two starts.

Darrell Ceciliani, OF, Mets (Short-season Brooklyn): 3-for-4, 2 R. 11-for-19 in last five games and batting .409 in 11 games; Has line drive bat and plus speed.

Johermyn Chavez, OF, Mariners (High-A High Desert): Almost a forgotten name in the Brandon Morrow deal, massive Venezuelan has gone deep in three straight games and has six in his last ten contest for an overall line of .291/.358/.536 with all warnings about High Desert numbers in full effect.

Chris Dominguez, 3B, Giants (Low-A Augusta): 4-for-5, 2B, HR (12), 3 R, 2 RBI, BB, SB. Has raised OPS 49 points in two days to .281/.325/.458 by going 7-for-11 with a double, triple and two home runs in last two games; plus-plus raw power and arm strength, and that's about it.

Danny Duffy, LHP, Royals (Rookie-level AZL Royals): 0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K. No. 6 prospect in system entering the year suddenly retired in spring training; but now it was just a breather. Lost development time remains lost development time.

Wilmer Flores, SS, Mets (High-A St. Lucie): 3-for-5, R. 18-year-old in 10-for-22 in first five Florida State League games; no extra-base hits, one walk.

Jake Marisnick, OF, Blue Jays (Rookie-level GCL Blue Jays): 2-for-6, 2B, RBI, K. $1 million bonus-baby from third-round of last year has massive tools and a ton of rawness; 10-for-28 with five extra-base hits.

Jim Negrych, 2B, Pirates (Triple-A Indianapolis): 2-for-4, R, 2 RBIs, K, 2 SB. The bat is the only thing resembling a tool, but it's a good one; batting .411/.459/.625 in 16 games since promotion.

Great summary as always. Gotta say that I'm more excited about Brett Jackson than I have been about any Cubs offensive prospect in many a moon. On the mound, any thoughts on Aaron Shafer's progress in Daytona out of the bullpen this year? The '08 second-rounder has been nearly untouchable. Does he have a future as a solid contributor to the MLB bullpen?

Is there any point in Toronto continuing with Overbay? Can't believe there is anyone who would trade for him and they surely can't get a draft pick because wouldn't they have to offer him another contract to get that? Perhaps Buck and Arencibia could play 1st or DH as well as catch until Wallace is given the job.

Kevin, what's the consensus on Neal at this point? I know people said AA would be the test for the Giants guys (Neal, Roger, Crawford, Gillespe), but is Neal's hot streak showing there is something there and that he's adjusting?

I don't know what the consensus is, but I'd guess is it is a combination of warmer weather, adjustment, and the fact that some of the better pitchers have been promoted out of AA. Neal is getting better results in the same environment as Crawford, Kieschnick, and Gillaspie, all of whom were more highly touted, so at least some of the improvement has to be adjustments that he has made that the others have not.

Kevin, how much should we be buying into Tejeda's breakout season this year? Is he going to keep this up in the second half and have a helium induced rise in his prospect status this year or is he going to come back to earth in the second half as his strikeouts catch up to him and his godly BABIP regresses?

In either case, he is finally starting to look like the player his tools say he can be and is definitely an interesting prospect. I just want to know how much stock you are putting into his insanely hot first half.